weekly Photo 52 - 2012 - Donnie - Week 33 TIME - posted Tuesday 21st August

Delta Skies said:
…...but I actually like the mirrored name badge at the top.
Click to expand...

Oh don't misunderstand me; I like it. I just think it stops you from "believing" the picture; it tells you that you're looking at a composition :)
 
Can't be that bad: it's only two letters different to Nikon!

Now Sony; there's a proper word!
 
Very clever that CanaC shot! Suppose it could have been a 'nonon'?
But seriously, thanks for explaining the technique, definitely want to try that someday.
 
Hi Paul

top marks for imagination & explaining the "how" (PSE10 has a cheat for this type of image & it sounds a whole lot less involved :lol:)

I didn't notice the canon name at 1st , nore the lens markings....getting those "normal 2 would've been the icing on the cake & shown a contender for a dual handed camera :thumbs:
 
Cheers all, I was deliberately going for as symmetrical a shot as I could get I have to admit by taking the title literally.

On the lens that you can see that it's not quite right, It's weird because every time I tried to get the lens spot on the logo wasn't, I guess that they are both off centre in relation to each other if you see what I mean?
 

Photo 52 Week 23 - Abstract - 1 by Donnie Canning, on Flickr

OK, struggling and falling behind I've shot this during Week 25!

I thought an abstract view would foot the bill so watering my plants from the plant perspective :-)

Set up for this was to place my camera in an empty aquarium facing upwards. I then placed a couple of plants beside the camera (the blurry green leaf in the left corner is one of them).

Additionally I deliberately set this all up under a tree canopy in my back garden as the first shot I took either blew out the sky or darkened the rest of the picture too much for detail. Hence this gave a good leafy background as well as a better tonal range throughout.

So, then obviously I had to protect the camera and needed a pane of glass so that the water wouldn't actually go into the aquarium and ruin my camera!
I had to improvise here and used a glass shelf from my fridge (don't tell the mrs!)
Once I did this I prefocussed the shot and took a few until I got it right using the remote release.

Post processing was straight forward with a mild tweak to the shadows and highlights and that was it.


Photo 52 Week 23 - Abstract - 2 by Donnie Canning, on Flickr

This is my other shot for this theme, yes there are 2 as my rules dictate when I'm falling behind I have to!

(I've only posted this one as it's my favourite to the Talk Photography 52 though)

Anyway, this is a straight forward shot with a low depth of field of the top of my whisk.

Set up was to put it in a glass to stand it up at an angle, then placed it on a mirror to get a bright background from the overcast sky.

I used my new (to me) M42 50mm 1.8 lens here too with my extension tube. Once focus was achieved manually I could then adjust the aperture until I was happy with the depth of field achieved.

I had to overexpose quite a bit to get the orange of the whisk right so had to do all this in manual mode.

In post processing I basically tweaked the highlights slightly and that was it.

I'm quite pleased with the shadows on the side and top corner too, this is from the mirror frame and a reflection of my dining room door leading to the garden and I'd noticed it in camera but decided to make a frame of it and I think it works fairly well.
 
Well done for the effort with the watering can but I have to say that I like the simplicity of #2. Nice colour against the stark white background. Very abstract.
 
Yep, I did a few shots with the water right at the lens but none really came out right, most of them had the spray over most of the picture and obscured pretty much everything else, I couldn't really get a shot with the water just leaving the can if you see what I mean so this was the best one.

I have to agree with ye on the second shot it's my favourite of the 2 even though there was a lot more involved in number 1, but it is the simplicity of it I love.
 

Photo 52 Week 26 - Joy by Donnie Canning, on Flickr


I took this shot at our local camera clubs studio night and had specifically asked the model to emote joy and I think she's pulled it off.

Setup was a blue background and 3 studio lights with shoot through umbrellas, 2 at camera left, 1 at camera right.

Post processing: I adjusted the exposure slightly to retrieve a little more detail in the large flower as it was a little too blown out, it still merges with the top but I'm happy enough.

Then I used a photoshop instagram filter on it as I thought it suited her attire, the action was called "earlybird" if you want to google it. I liked this as it gives it a period feel.
 
Flower area is blown but overall a good representation of joy.
 
Right, still on catch up mode!

Here's my Moody shot for Week 25 and as I said in my self imposed rules if a reshoot was pulled (as it was in week 25) I'd shoot the theme PLUS a reshoot, you'll also find a reshoot for Abstract.

So, first Moody.

Photo 52 - Week 25 - Moody by Donnie Canning, on Flickr

Set up of this shot was me, my Lambretta and an industrial unit a couple of miles away on a Sunday evening and using a tripod.

Post processing was a little more than I would usually do and I have to admit that I went a googling for photoshop tutorials on how to make it moody, but then couldn't find anything handy. So, I did this one completely from scratch!

So, I corrected the colour balance by warming it slightly in Camera Raw. Then opened it in Photoshop and copied the layer, leaving the original untouched should I need to go back to it.

So, first off there were a few bits I wasn't happy with signage wise (far right of the shutter door had 2 signs and there was an alarm box above right) so they were cloned out carefully.

Next, another layer. I then increased the contrast and used a high pass filter. I then changed the blending mode to Overlay.

Now I was getting there, but the blue doors were too distracting as they were a fairly vivid baby blue so I copied the original layer again and desaturated it to a level I was happy with and this gave it a nice grungy moody look. However, while I was happy with the main focus of the pic, ie the central portion, the rest needed something.

So, a new blank layer and using a large black brush with an opacity of 50% and flow of about 40% I gently brushed around the outside border of the picture but not too heavy.

Then instead of brushing more and more, I simply copied that layer again to double it up but I thought it needed a little more so yet another copy of the vignette but the third one was too much, so instead of deleting that one and trying to touch it in (as I was scared of not getting it right) I simply reduced the opacity of the 3rd layer to a point I was happy, which turned out to be 23%.

And that was that!

Now, onto the Abstract Reshoot.


Photo 52 - Week 25 - Reshoot (Abstract) by Donnie Canning, on Flickr

Right this is a pretty straight forward shot of a bike rack in front of the local swimming pool at about 3.30 this morning as I was after a sunrise shot for the "Bedford 31 Photos in 31 days of July" challenge.

So as that didn't pan out here I spotted these and "Abstract" sprang to mind.

It was a little awkward as I was backed right up to a bin to get the angle right but of course there was the empty space camera left which I wasn't happy with so, as it was a tripod shot anyway, why not fill the space with myself?

Post processing was a colour correction to tungsten and I removed a lone small white street light very far left that kept drawing my eye. I also used the burn tool to slightly darken my face as it was slightly overexposed compared to the rest of the image.

And that's it.
 
Processing work well for the 'moody' shot and I like the 'abstract' but it would IMO be better without you in it as it distracts the eye from the point of the image.
 
Joy is excellent really like the processing on it

Abstract could do without the person sort of takes away from the abstract

Moody again really nice processing
 
Hi Paul

Sorry I've been a bit too busy to get on line just latey.

Symmetry, I think it's a very clever idea, but you can see the join between the two sides with the slightly wonky front of the lens.

Abstract one is superb, you've got the lighting and focus spot on. My only critique is the fact you can see the remote in your hand, but otherwise:clap:

Abstract two, very abstract indeed, I like the effects you've achieved here. I'd say out of the two I prefer this as the most abstract of the pair.

Joy, oh another good one! It is amazing what can be achieved with the right kit, I wish I had access (and knowledge) to a studio set up! As a sideI think she's done well to show joy, quite a difficult emotion to 'act' as the eyes can give it away.

Moody, wow you did a lot of editing there and it was worth it!

Abstract reshoot, I agree that it would work better without you in it! Nothing against you but you draw the eye away from the bike rack! Personally I think it would look better cropped to just the bike rack. But I prefer your original abstract shots.
 
Joy – Loving the retro feel to these. Definitely says joy to me.

Moody – I like this shot. A nice self portrait. I like how you matched the processing to the image you have tried to portray.

Reshoot – The lean is putting me off on this one. The like the recession in the centre of the bike racks though.
 
Paul, your joy is just stunning! You have a great model there. Perfect!!!

Moody too is great, and I like the composition.

Abstract reshoot doesn't really do it for me I'm afraid; I thought it was a second moody at first. I don't really see much in it that's abstract.
 
Thanks all for the comments.

I have to admit that the abstract reshoot was a "that'll do / tick the box" type shot if you see what I mean?
Also, I agree with both comments on me being in the picture and not being in the picture, as I originally shot it both ways, for me it was just better to be in it :-)

Just been getting sooooooo far behind it's doing my head in!
 
Hi Paul

Not sure why but you have dropped off my radar since the early posts. Sorry.

I will stick to the latest posts.

Abstract - goos attempt with the watering can but i prefer the 'hoops'. I like the colours, the refelections and the comp and focus.

Joy - that is a smashing shot, super colours. The model has certainly displayed the theme in her face and the PP is excellent, giving that period feel which to me also evokes the name of Joy, also redolent of that period e.g Joy Grenfell.

Abstract reshoot - not as good as the earlier one in my view. Just looks like a bike rack with a bloke standing nearby. Sorry

Moody - very good capture for the theme - not only the moody look in the face but the whole slightly run down surroundings adding to the moodiness.
 
Hi Paul

'pologies for being slack on the comments dept...catch up time for me....

Abstract...the image of the whisk is weird n wonderful...quite like it though , simple colors , great shapes...:thumbs:

Joy....thats a great image , very 50's feel to it , fabulous expression of joy...not worried about the flower....really really like it :clap::clap:

Moody...another belting image , sooo on theme...the pp works a treat mister....big :thumbs:

Abstract reshoot ...great find with those red railings....another vote for a version without you in it...no offence meant :)...like it though , nice bold vivid color & a great tunnel to lead you to the end....:thumbs:
 
Thanks again all for the comments and critique, time to post a couple more, thought I should post my authority shots, 2 due to my rules though only 1 will go on the flickr group.

Both are completely opportunity snaps to be honest so to me, they fill the purpose of the title but that's about it.

FIrst one is in Bedford where I happened to be coming past a scene where the police had boxed in this Golf in the middle of a busy road at rush hour.


Authority 2 by Donnie Canning, on Flickr

Second one again's a snap and with a long lens but not a quick enough shutter speed as there's certainly some softness / blur on the face, but I just thought it was a funny shot seeing the policeman sorting out his hot dog :-)


Authority by Donnie Canning, on Flickr
 
Hi Paul

good to see you still hanging on in here....policman eating on duty...well spotted & caught given the limitations of lens & shutter speed

Wonder what was going off in #1:thinking: Do you always carry your camera in the car...just in case ?
 
Heh heh, I was on my scooter that day so had the opportunity to pull over :-) I very rarely leave the camera at home to be honest, though since getting an iphone just last week I have been leaving it unless travelling outside the town itself I have to admit.
 
Joy: Great shot. Love the lighting, everything.

Moody: Well set up and good PP. I like it.

Authority: The one with the hotdog is my choice. Good picture.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top